CHESTER has sent a message of support to its dozens of heartbroken American guests ­ we share your suffering.

CHESTER has sent a message of support to its dozens of heartbroken American guests ­ we share your suffering.

Prayers were being said every half-hour at Chester Cathedral on Wednesday for American tourists visiting the city.

Flags flew half mast at Chester Town Hall, County Hall and MBNA Bank on the Chester Business Park as people struggled to come to terms with the Carnage.

Two books of condolence have been opened at Chester Town Hall for people to note personal sympathy messages to the thousands who have lost their lives.

City businesses are expected to mark a three minutes silence at 11am today.

Lord Mayor of Chester Graham Proctor, who met American visitors for tea this week, also sent a message of sympathy to the citizens of the United States on behalf of the people of Chester.

He said: 'The thoughts and prayers of everyone in Chester are with the people of America.

'Everyone is deeply shocked by the appalling loss of life in New York, Washington and Pittsburgh, and our prayers go out to all those whose lives have been affected by this terrible tragedy.'

The city council is contacting hotels in Chester to offer whatever support it can to any American visitors who are unable to return home.

Many US guests were in the city this week staying at the Moat House Hotel and The Chester Grosvenor in Eastgate Street.

Hotel managing director Jonathan Slater said all of his American guests had been deeply saddened after watching the tragedy unfold on TV.

He said: 'A large percentage of our business comes from North America.

'We have a large number of guests at the moment from the States and we are trying to be as helpful as we can.

'People are looking at travel arangements. I have written personally to every guest.

'We have had some people who can't get into the hotel because of cancelled flights and we have people still here who were due to depart.'

Chester has stronglinks with America and there are a number of American companies based in the city.

Contact is also being made with Chester's sister city - Lakewood, Colorado, and the University of Plattsburgh in New York, which has links with Chester College.

College spokesman Keith Thompson said: 'A number of students are due to arrive in a couple of weeks from the University of Plattsburgh.

'They have e-mailed us to say they are quite shaken as they had a number of friends and relatives who worked in the World Trade Center or buildings nearby.

'Our principal, Prof Timothy Wheeler, has sent a letter of sympathy to the Plattsburgh campus.

'We will be holding a special service in the college chapel to coincide with the three-minute silence tomorrow to allow staff and students to express their feelings and to offer words of sympathy to those who were killed or injured.'